Welded-selvage screen cloth loom



June 17, 1941. N. s. HARTER WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Filed June5, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet l June 17, 1941. N. s. HARTER 2,245,584

WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Filed June 5, 1939 l1 Sheets-Sheet 2[Mention- NOHH 6. E756,

J1me 1941- N. s. HARTER v WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Fild June s,1959 N..s. HARTER A 2,245,584

WELDED-KSELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM June 17, 1941.

11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 5, 1939 J1me 4 N. s. HARTER 2,245,584

' WELDED'SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOQM Filed June 5, 1939 11 Shets-Sheet 5June 17,1941. s. HARTER 2,245,584

' WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Filed June 5, 1939 1-1 Sheets-Sheet eF'IEB.

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ll Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed June 5, 1939 June 17, 1941. N s. HART'ERWELDED-S ELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Filed June 5, 1959 ll Sheets-Sheet 8||||||||II I| l m v lmenlar:

A OA H 5. #48758 June 17, 1941.. N. s. HARTER WELDED-SELVAGE SCREENCLOTH LOOM I ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June 5, 1939 NI \w June 17, 1941.HARTER 2,245,584

WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Filed June 5, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 10lmeiuf'oit' NOQH 6. RTE/Q,

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- June 17, 1941.

N. S. HARTER WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM Filed June 5, 1959 llSheets-Sheet ll I: IY-

enema June 11,1941 f UNIT-ED STATE WELDED-SELVAGE SCREEN CLOTH LOOM mms. Hatter, Waukegan. m. minor to ""ohne Fence Company, a corporationofIili- Application June s. 1939, sum No. 211,539]

'(Cl. 140-?) v 21 Claims. The present invention is concerned with animproved method and means for the production of reticulated wire fabric.

. Certain features 'of the instant application are related to thosedisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 234,853, filed October13, 1938, entitled Hardware and screen cloth machines, and thepresentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of said copendingapplication.

In said prior application a method and means are disclosed for makingrectangular mesh fabrics with a welded selvage, the weave being ofrelatively large mesh corresponding to that known in the art as hardwarecloth; Although .the present invention, broadly speaking, is concernedwith the production of any mesh size fabric, it is peculiarly wellsuited for the manufacture of fabrics of much smaller mesh than thoseproduced by the machine and method of my prior application. Specificallythe present invention aims to provide an improved method and machine forthe production of welded selvage screening of fine mesh comparable tofly screening, it being understood, however, that the invention is notso limited.

In common with the subject matter of' my copending application, thepresent invention has as one of its aims the elimination of conventionalbobbin and'shuttle for introduction of the weft wire into interwovenrelation with the warp wires and provide in lieu thereof means forintroducing appropriate length of weft wire into the shed of warp wiresby transverse feed means in cooperation with a guide associated with thereed of a heater frame, whereby the weft wire is provided in relativelyendless amounts. This advantageously permits the machine to operate forlong periods of time without interruption and results in a superiorproduct from the standpoint of uniformity of mesh and absence of amultiplicity of undesirable and unsightly joints in the weft wire. Suchobjectional joints of necessity are present at recurrent intervals infabric not made by my invention because of the recurrent exhausting andreplenishing of the bobbins on the prior art or conventional types oflooms.

One object of the present invention is to provide welded selvage fabricsin a continuous manner that will be symmetrically, uniformly andeconomically produced in a substantially continuous manner and whichwill be bundled under substantially uniform tension in such form thatthe inner, f

outer and intermediate convolutions of the roll are approximatelyequally tensioned and compressed.

Another object is the provision of improved feeding means for the weftwires involving the use of novel pulling, pushing and guiding meanstherefor whereby quite irrespective of the small gage of the wire,positive and accurate feed is effected. It is a further object toprovide novel coacting machine elements that are rendered effective tointerrupt the machine the instant that improper operating conditionsoccur. Another object is to provide improved selvaging means effectiveto condition and autogenously unite the selvage ends of the weft wiresto components of the fabric continuously without interrupting theadvancement thereof during its formation. It is a more specific objectto provide simplified yet highly effective electrical meansjfor controland operation of the selvaging means.

Other collateral objects and advantages which are inherent in the methodand machine of the In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a right-hand,side-elevational view of ,a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, which is complete in nearly every detail, with the exceptionof the warp wire supply reels, which are omitted from the righthand sideof the view.

Figure 2 represents a transverse, sectionalelevational view of themachine taken at line 11-11, Figure 1, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken of the right-hand,side-elevation of the machine showing the selvaging device, the reed andbeater frame assembly, including the operating cam for the latter, andthe heddles forming the warp shed.

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional-elevational view taken along theirregular line IV-IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, sectional-elevational view taken along lineV--V in Figure 4, illustrat- ,of the weft wire feed instrumentalities,as they appear at the left-hand side of the view of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken at line VIII-VIII in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken at line IX--IX in Figure 7'.

Figure 10 is an enlarged, top-plan view of the left-hand selvaging unitshowing the initial welder, the trimmer, the formers, and the finalwelder.

Figure 11 is a sidc-elevational view of the selvaging unit disclosed inFigure 10, looking from the fabric (right-hand) side of the latter.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the selvaging unit taken along lineXlI-XII of .Figure 11,

' showing the weft trimmer and initial former.

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IHIIXIII inFigure 11, illustrating the tools of the initial former, and thecooperation therebetween relative to the fabric.

Figure 14 is a further enlargement of that which is shown in Figure 13,and corresponds in view point to the latter.

' Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV of Figure 11,showing the final former and final welder.

Figure 16 is a top-plan view of the fabric winding or bundlingmechanism, illustrating also the left-hand end of the machine as viewedin Figure 1, and showing the cooperation between the bundler and thelatter.

Figure 17 is a right-hand, side-elevational view of the winding orbundling mechanism shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, top-plan view of theright-hand selvage edge of the fabric, showing its progression as it istrimmed, formed, and welded by the selvaging unit.

Figure 19 is a plan view of a finished web of fabric, drawnapproximately to full size for house screening and the like; and

Figure 20 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the stationary weftwire guide, sectioned as in Figure 8.

Before referring in detail to the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be noted that while not strictly limitedthereto, the method and mechanism disclosed is effective to producescreen fabric of the general character shown in Figures 18 and 19. Thisfabric constitutes a multiplicity of longitudinal components such asline or warp wires L and associated cross wires, herein sometimesreferred toas weft or picket wires P. The picket wires are welded orotherwise autogenously integrated at their intersections with the outermarginal line wires, as indicated at A. The outer extremities of thepicket wires are cut off in sequence so that they extend laterally auniform distance from the outermost line wire, the point of cut offbeing indicated at C in Figure 18. After such cutting, the ends of thepicket wires are bent at an angle so as to lie in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to that of the fabric in a manner hereinafter more fullyset forth and as suggested pictorially in Figure 14. Thereafter the thusbent ends of the picket wires are brought into the relationship picturedat the left of Figure 18, wherein it is apparent that the outermostextremity of each picket wire overlaps an oblique portion of itsneighboring picket wire. The thus overlapped picket wires aresubsequently welded or otherwise autogenously integrated to complete theseivage. Reference will now be made to the general assembly and nism forforming the fabric.

General arrangement As viewed in Figure 1, warp or line wires L areintroduced to the machineat the right-hand end of this view from asupply depot (not shown). and are directed, by driven feed rolls I,through an automatic tensioning device 2, stationary guides 3, andheddles l, to the reed member 5. through which they pass. At this pointweft wires or pickets P are introduced in interwoven relation with thewarp wires to form the web of fabric F. From here the fabriccontinuously advances, and is operated on by rightand lefthand selvagingunits 0, which complete the fabri'c. From thence the fabric F is carriedthrough driven feed rolls I, and is conducted on to the bundlingmechanism 8.

As has already been stated, many of the structural and functionalcharacteristics of the machine illustrated here for purposes ofdisclosing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aresubstantially the same as those shown and described in my copendingapplication, above identified. The means for handling and properlytensioning the warp wires, and for delivering the fabric, together withtheir associated drives and related controls, are set forth with greatparticularity in said copending application. It will be sufficient topoint out for this application that the warp wires L, proceeding fromthe stationary guides 3, are passed through the heddles 4, whereby theshed is formed. The reed member 5 is adapted to be oscillated backwardsand forwards in the zone of the warp shed, whereby it functions to placepickets into interwoven relation with the warp wires.

The reed, beater frame, and associated parts The reed of the presentinvention is, as will be seen by reference to Figures 4 and 6, composedof a. plurality of dents 9 formed from flat metal strips that arearranged on end in side-by-side relationship to each other on the beaterframe l0 (see also Figure 3). The dents are held in place upon thebeater frame by means of a clamp II, as is fully described in mycopending application, and are maintained in spaced relation relative toeach other by a plurality of spacer washers H, by means of which thewarp wire slots l8 are formed. The assembly of dents is rendered aunitary structure by tie rods I4, upon which each of the dents isimpaled, and made fast by nuts l5.

As in the reed illustrated in my copending application, a notch isprovided upon the front edge of each dent at a point intermediate theends thereof, which notches, when the dents are assembled to form thereed, register in a substantially horizontal line extending transverselyof the machine to provide a weft wire guide slot i6 across the face ofthe reed panel 5.

The guide slot [6 is adapted to receive picket lengths from a continuoussupply of weft wire by the means illustrated in Figures 2 and 7, whichwill be described hereinafter. In order to constrain the travel of thewire to the slot l6, as it is being pushed theretnrough, a retractableclosure H (see Figure 3) is provided therefor, which likewise is similarto that previously disclosed by me in my copending application aboveidentifled. This device comprises a slotted member arranged along theface of the reed panel 5, the slots of which are lined with the slots 13of the reed panel in directions longitudinally of the machine and in thevertical planes of the warp fwires.

."Portions of the closure member l1 intermediate the slots thereinregister with the face of the 'dents 3 into which the weft wire guideslot l3 .7 is disposed. when the beater frame I. is moved to itsrearmost position by its operating cam II, the weft wire guide slot itin". the reed panel 5 falls in coaxial alignment with a stationary weftwire guide. l3, illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 7. when the parts are inthis relationship, the instrumentalities illustrated in Figures 3 and 4-g a and intermittently acting feed rolls 3]. From these latter, lengthsof weft wire are recurrently fed through the stationary weitwire guidell into the weft wire guide slot ii in the reed panel I, as has alreadybeen described. 1

,Aslsdisclosed in my prior application, above referred to, the weft wireis arranged to be paid from a driven reel' which helps torelieve it ofmostof its frictional drag. .Such' a reel is illusill for controllingthe closure member II are in such position as to dispose the latter inoverlying relationship relative to the slot l6 substantially to closethe same. Thus, when a weft wire is intrated at 30 in Figure 2. Itcomprises a standard 33 at the top of which is mounted a radiallyextending arm 33, which is'ailorded bearing axially of the standard 33by a fixed collar 4|. At the extremity of the arm 39 is a pivot shaft,upon which the reel, composed of a basket 4| and base 42, is journaledfor rotation about an axis that is'ecce'ntric with the axis of thestandard 33.

- Cooperating radial lugs on the arm 39 and lating rod 20 which ispivoted by means of links 2| upon the beater frame "I. From the rod 20extends'a plurality of connecting rods 22, upon which the closure memberI1 is supported. This assembly is retained against the face of the' reedpanel 5 by means of clamps 23, best seen in Figure 4, and motion isimparted to the former by a connecting rod 24, which is actuated througha suitable lever by earns 26 (see Figure 2).

When the beater frame cam l3 advances the reed panel to the forward endof its movement, which position may be seen in Figures 1, 3 and 6, thecams 26 are effective to move the connecting rod 24 downwardly so as toretract the associated linkage and connecting rods a sumcient distanceto dispose the closure member I! below the weft wire guide slot l6,which permits the weft wire picket confined therein to be discharged,and

to remain in the bite of the warp wires after the heddles have reversedthe shed and the beater frame has withdrawn the reed panel therefrom.

As is disclosed in my above mentioned copending application, the beaterframe Ill is so operated and controlled by the cam it that it holds thereed 5 stationary during. the period in which a weft wire is beingcharged thereinto,

after which it moves the reed rapidly forward to position the picket atthe point of warp wire convergence in the shed. It is provided that thereed firmly bear upon each picket until the heddles 4 reverse the warpshed to lock the picket in place. vances continuously withoutinterruption, the cam I8 is designed to move the beater frame and reedforward in a creeping movement during this holding interval so as tokeep pace with the fabric until the picket is interwoven.

Wejt feed The feed mechanism for advancing weft wires into the reedpanel guide slot it, last described, is best illustrated in Figures 2, 4and '7, to which reference is now made.

The weft wire P is supplied in any quantity from a reel 30, from whichit is withdrawn by means of a positively driven puller drum 3| throughan automatic slack maintaining guide 32. The puller drum 3| delivers thewire upwardly through driven pinch rolls 33-35, into a looping guide 34,from which it is delivered in a horizontal line toward the machinebeneath the pinch roll 35, through tensioning rollers 30,

However, since the fabric adion the fixed collar 40 are provided with aset screw (not shown) by means of which thearm,

and, hence, the reel carried at the other end thereof,-may be bodilymoved around the axis of the standard 38-. v

The reel base is fashioned into a belt pulley 42a, which is' adapted toaccommodate a driving belt 4 4, through which it is frictionally, thoughpositively, rotated. The driving belt 44 receives its power from apulley assembly 45, which. is positively driven through gearing 4B,shafting 41, and a clutch 48, connected to one of the power shafts ofthe machine proper.

As bestappears in Figure-2, it will be seen that the pulley assembly 45comprises a variable speed pulley of the double-cone variety in whichtwo halves 49a and 49b are mounted for rotation about a vertical stubaxle 50, which is rotated through gearing 46, as has already beenmentioned. The lower half 49b of the cone pulley is urged toward theupper half by a compression spring 5|, so that, normally, thecomplementary halves of the pulley will be maintained in contiguousrelation. When the reel is adjusted as close to the machine as-ispermissible without sacrificing driving tension on the belt 44, thelatter engages the conesof the pulley at their greatest effectivediameter, and, hence, the reel will be drivenat its greatest speed as aconsequence thereof. However, when a slower speed of rotation isdesired, the reel standard arm 39-..

may be turned to remove the reel pulley 42a a short distance from thepulley 45, and this will vary the effective diameter of the lattercausing the speed of the revolution of the reel to be reduced. In thisway, the rate at which the wire P is paid from the reel is effectivelycontrolled to conform to the requirements of the machine.

From the reel, the wire is led upwardly to the slack-maintaining device32, which comprises a rectangular support 52 having guide pulleys 53 and54 at the extremities thereof for leading the wire fairly down to thepuller drum 3|. Before passing from the pulley 53 to the pulley 54, theWire is looped downwardly in figure-8 configuration, as is shown at 55in Figure 2, so as to pass around a sheave 51 that is carried upon thefree end of a movable arm 56, which arm is pivoted at its other end tothe vertical leg of the rectangular frame .52. The figure-8 loop of wire55, under proper operating conditions, maintains thearm 56 at or nearthe horizontal, and is aided in this function by a weak compressionspring 58, which is arranged yieldingly to resist any movement of thearm above or below such positions. A pair of contacts 59 are carriedupon the pivoted arm 56 so as to extend radially there- 33 and 35.

from relative to the pivotal axis thereof. Disposed between these twocontacts '59 is a cooperating contact 60 mounted stationarily upon thevertical leg of the rectangular frame 52.

The operation of this device is such that, if an excessive amount ofwire is drawn from the supply reel 30, as might happen should somethinginterrupt or foul the smooth operation of the machine, the figure-8 loopof slack 55 in the weft wire will grow to thepoint where the arm 56 isno longer supported thereby, and, hence, the latter is permitted to dropagainst the yielding resistance 'of the compression spring 58, until oneof the contacts 59 engages the stationary contact 60 to cause, through arelay circuit (not shown) the stoppage of the machine. This permits theoperator to correct the trouble that originally caused the excessiveslack to form. Conversely, ifthe machine takes up wire faster than it ispaid out by the reel 30, the figure-8 loop 55 ofslack wire is shortenedsufficiently to lift the arm 56, whereby the other contact 59 is movedinto engagement with the stationary contact 60 to stop the operation ofthe machine. This latter eventuality usually arises when the supply ofwire becomes fouled on the reel, or when the reel is being driven at arate of speed insufficient for the machine's requirements.

The wire P is then passed at least 1 turns around a pullerdrum 3|, whichpulls it from the frame is at the rearinostpoint of its cycle ofmovement in which position the reed 5 carried thereon aligns with thestationary weft wire "guide |9, so that a picket may be charged intosupply and discharges it upwardly to pinch rolls These pinch rolls feedthe wire into a loop S2within the loop guide 34, from whence the wirepasses on to the feed rolls 31, which are intermittently opened andclosed so as to effect a periodic cessation in the advancement of thewire. The drives for these several instrumentalities may be bestunderstood by reference to Figures '7, 8 and 9.

It will be observed that the gearing 46, mentioned hereinbefore inconnection -with the drive to the split conereel pulley, is providedwith a sprocket 6|, which, through a chain 62, serves to transmit powerto an intermediate sprocket 63, that is directly connected to, anddrives an adjacent sprocket 64. This latter sprocket accommodates achain 65, which is led upwardly to a sprocket 68 afiixed to the shaft ofthe pinch roll 33 over which it passes, and, then, downwardly beneath atensioning pulley 61, wherefrom it extends to drive a sprocket 68 thatimparts motion to the' lower roll of the intermittent feed rolls 31. Theupper feed roll is driven through spur gears 68a coacting between theupper and lower shafts of these rolls. From the sprocket 68 the chain 65extends downwardly beneath the drive sprocket 64. Thus is continuousmotion imparted to all of the sprockets and rolls associated in thedrive of the chain 65.

It will be noted that all of the pinch rolls in this arrangement,including the puller drum, are continuously driven, and, as such, failto provide the necessary condition for the intermittent advancement ofthe weft wire to the reed panel. It will be understood that the wire mayonly be advanced, in this connection, when the beater the weft wireguide slot l6. During the movement of the reed panel to its forwardmostposition, the advancement of the weft wire must be automaticallysuspended pending its return.

To effect this, provision is made to feed the prerequisite amount ofwire, and, then, to interrupt such feed without requiring that any ofthe rolls in question be stopped. This is accomplished by the meansshown in Figures '1 and 8, by raising and lowering the uppermost of theintermlttent feed rolls 31 relative to the lower roll thereof. The wirewill only be advanced when the upper roll pushes it against the lowerroll and holds it there to effect its movement. The opening and closingof the feed rolls is accomplished by the means illustrated in Figure 8,which comprises a movable bearing 14 in which the upper of the pair offeed rolls 31 is mounted. Intermittent motion is imparted to the bearing14 through a shaft 15 and a controller arm '16, the lower extremity ofwhich bears upon a cam 11. As this cam raises and lowers the arm 16, theupper feed roll is raised and lowered a corresponding amount to feed theWire at predetermined intervals only. The cam 11 is powered from theprime mover of the machine through the shafting seen in Figure 2.

The arrangements of the several parts is such that the puller drum 3|will continuously advance wire through the bite of the pinch rolls 33and 35, and, since these latter instrumentalities continuously rotate toeffect an uninterrupted advance of the wire, a loop of slack is formedin the loop guide 34, as is indicated at S in Figures 2 and 7, duringthe period in which the feed rolls 31 are not advancing the wire. Uponresumption of the feed of the wire by the feed rolls 31, a sufficientloop of slack S will have accumulated to satisfy the requirements forthe delivery of one picket length of weft wire, which is enough for oneoperating period of the feed rolls 31, Without requiring that theselatter draw from the source of wire behind thepuller drum 3|. It will beappreciated that this is a very simple way in which to facilitate thestarting and stopping of the wire without injury or breakage thereof. Itis especially important in dealing with fine wires in the order of .010of an inch in diameter, such as compose the ordinary grades of housescreening, that some system be adopted to reduce all drag and inertia toan absolute minimum so as to preclude the wires being broken when thefeed rolls 31 come together. The loop of slack S, which is periodicallyaccumulated in the loop guide 34, provides an ideal solution to thisproblem.

The loop guide comprises a plate 18 on which is hinged a gate member 19that may be opened by pivoting outwardly on the pintle hinge 80, andthat may be closed and retained closed by a latch 8|. The clearancebetween the elements of the gate 19 and the plate 18 is no more thansufficient to accommodate one diameter of the wire being looped thereinwithout binding or unduly crowding the latter.

The tensioning member 36, through which the wire passes last beforeentering the intermittent feed rolls 31, is constructed and arrangedwith a view toward facilitating the threading of the wire through themachine. It comprises an upper bearing block 82 and a lower bearingblock 82a in which are journaled rollers for rotation on axes transverseto the long axis of the wire passing therethrough. When in operableposition, the lowest peripheral points on the rollers mounted by theupper bearing block 82, and the highest peripheral points on the rollersmounted by the lower bearing block 82a, are, relative to each other,past that point, in favor of propinquity, wherein a common plane wouldpass tangent to each of the rollers of both bearing blocks. In otherwords, a serpentine passage is provided through which the wire mustpass, and this serves slightly to tension the wire to insure its beingfairly led through the feed rolls and associated guides.

To facilitate threading the wire, the roller bearing block 82a isslidably mounted relative to the stationary upper block 82, and ismovable into operable position, as well as retractable from the latter,by means of a cam 83 that is actuated by a small hand lever 88. Bymanipulating the lever 84, the lower bearing block 82a is permitted todrop, thus creating a considerable space between the rollers of theupper bearing block 82 and those of the lower bearing block 82a. Thispermits the wire to be laid in between these two members, after whichthe small lever 84 is manipulated to cause the cam 83 to raise the lowerbearing block 82a until the wireis forced to assame a serpentinedisposition about the peripheries of the rollers.

The matter of guiding the wire to and from the intermittent feed'rolls81 presented a problem of providing a straight guide that would be ofsufficiently small intemal'dimensions to confine the wire closelywithout permitting it to buckle, and, yet, of suilicient length so as toreach from the intermittent feed roll to the reed panel withoutdeviating from a substantially straight path.

. Considering that the wire may be in the neighborhood of .010 of aninch in diameter, and that the guide in question is around two feet inlength, it will be appreciated that manufacturing difliculties might beencountered in the provision of such a guide.

The guide I8 is designed to solve this problem, and its constructionmaybe understood by reference to Figures 7, 8 and 20. The guide I9illustrated in Figure 8 is shown in section, but this view is ofinsufllcient size to be very helpful from the standpoint of a cleardisclosure; hence, Figure 20 has been provided to give a more accuraterepresentation as well as a clearer idea of what the guide I9 looks likein cross section.

It will be observed that it is composed of a a when the wire is inposition, since, if the lower element, 850 is laid in place with thewire disposed to the left-hand side of its shoulder 88, the

portion, or shoulder, 88 provided on each bar.

By assembling and arranging these bars as illustrated in Figure 20, itwill be seen that an opening substantially square in cross section isafforded down the approximate center of the mass of the assembledblocks. This opening may, in size, be varied by enlarging the heighth ofthe shoulders 86, and by moving the blocks relative to each other so asto increase the lateral dimensions of the bore. This permits of a veryaccurate confining of the wire without binding, and assures that ittravels along as nearly a perfectly straight path as it is possible toprovide. It has the added advantage of permitting the removal upperblock may be slid into place from the lefthand side (as viewed in Figure20) without at any time crushing the wire and without entailing anyarduous threading operations. The size of the wire being predetermined,the depth of the shoulders 88 may be machined to proper dimension in thefirst instance, so that it is only necessary to bring the outer edges ofthe blocks into flush relationship to provide an internal bore of thesize required.

As is disclosed in my copending application, the inner end of thisstationary weft wire guide is disposed in contiguous relation to thereed panel so that, as the latter is moved to advance a picket intoposition, the coaction between the guide and reed is such as toshear-the picket length carried by the reed from the weft wire remainingin'the guide. As will later appear, trimmers for both ends of thepickets are provided in the selvaging units accurately to align the wireends.

As is viewed in Figures '7 and 8, the guide I9, described last above, isheld in place by suitable brackets 81 to which clamps 88 hold the guideby means of bolts 89.

Earlier in the description of the weft wire feed mechanism, andparticularly in the discussion of Figure 2, it was mentioned that thesource of power to these instrumentalities was supplied from one of thedriven shafts of the machine through a clutch .48. This clutch, whichappears in Figures 2 and 8, is of positive variety, and includes acircular disc 88 on the driving shaft, and a retractable T-head 9| onthe driven shaft, which head is provided with pins 92 that are adaptedfor insertion in pairs of diametrically opposite holes 88 formed in thedisc 88. This arrangement provides that the T-head on the driven shaftmay be withdrawn from engagement with the disc element of the clutch onthe driving shaft, and turned relative thereto, until the properrelationship is had to coordinate the weft wire feeding mechanism withthe other operating instrumentalities of the machine. It will be notedthat the holes in the disc element 98 are sufliciently close together soas to admit of an adjustment within 20- degrees out of a possible 360degrees relative to the predisposition of the two shafts.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5, there is illustrated a device for stopping themachinein the event an inadequate amount of weft wire is fed through thereed panel groove I6 to provide a picket of the required length. At theend of the reed remote from that at which the weft wire is introducedthereto, there is attached to the beater frame a pair of bearings I88 inwhich is journaled a shaft I8I that is adapted to be rocked within ashort are of movement by means of a rod I82, a lever I83 having a camfollower I84 extending therefrom, and a cam I85. A compression springI88 secured between a stationary point on the housand the assembly ofthe guide during the time b The inner end of the shaft I8.I is providedwith an extension I90 which is adapted to lie across the end of the reedpanel so as to be oscillated back and forth across the end of the weftwire slot I6 therein. Beneath the shaft IN is a contactor I9I (seeFigures 4 and 5) through which a machine stop relay circuit may beshortcircuited should an extension I92 on the shaft come into engagementtherewith.

The operation of the device is as follows: The cam III! is so disposedin its cycle of operation as to raise the extension I90 clear of the endof the panel slot I9 at the time a wire is being advanced therethrough,and to maintain this relationship until the time when the lead end ofthe weft wire should be projecting from the reed at the panel slot I0.When this condition has been reached, the cam I95 imparts a liftingmotion to the rod I82, whereby the shaft I8I is revolved and theextension I90 carried thereby is caused to travel downwardly toward thereed panel slot I6. If the weft wire has been fed through successfully.the extension I90 will bear thereagainst and be restrained from furthermovement in that direction; the remainder of the movement afforded bythe cam, rod, etc., be-- ing harmlessly dissipated in the compressionspring I 80. Should, however, the weft wire fail to feed through thereed panel as it should, the motion of the cam will cause the extensionI90 to pass down across the end of the panel groove I8, until theextension I92 of the shaft I8l engages the contactor I9I toshort-circuit the machine stop relays (not shown) and instantly stop themachine. This permits the operator to ascertain the reason for the weftwire pickets having failed to reach the end of its intended course ofmovement through the reed panel, and is a positive safeguard against theplacement of pickets too short in length for proper coaction with theselvaging steps that immediately follow.

Salvage formation After the pickets are interwoven with the warp wiresby the various instrumentalities herein described, the fabric F iscomplete except for the selvaging operation that is carried out by thecomplementary selvaging units disposed at each side of the machineadjacent the fabric exit end thereof. Since one of these units isexactly the same as the other with the exception of the direction inwhich it faces, the left-hand unit has been adopted for purposes ofillustration to serve for both. In Figures 10-15, inclusive, isillustrated a typical form of selvaging unit which has been generallydesignated at 8 in Figures 1 and 3.

vided with a bearing groove 96 that extendsthroughout its length acrossthe machine. may be seen in Figures 3 and 11.

The units are supported on a base 91 that is mounted within the groove96 of the table 95, and across which they may be slid into any positionrelative to each other for accommodating any width of fabric to be actedupon. Suitable clamps 91a are provided to anchor the base 91 at anyposition across the table 95.

The upper portion of the base 91 is provided with a rack, 98 thatextends longitudinally ofthe machine, as may be best seen in Figures 10and This 11. The rack on the fabric side of the base is undercut (seeFigures 12 and 13) and on its side remote from the fabric isperpendicular to the plane of the base 91. The selvaginginstrumentalities are each provided with a mounting 99 which has anundercut slot extending upwardly from its under-surface for cooperationwith the undercut face of the rack 98. The mounting slot is madesufficiently large in lateral dimensions so as to admit of the mountingsbeing laid into position over the undercut rack 98 without tilting, andis adapted to be drawn into position where the undercut portions of therack and the mounting cooperate to form a tight Joint, looking themounting and associated parts securely in place. This latter is effectedby means of bolts I00, which may be seen in Figures 12 and 15, but whichalso appear in Figure 11.

In order that the mountings may be moved longitudinally of the rack 98with respect to each other, so that the various instrumentalities forforming the selvages, to be described in full hereinafter, may bebrought into proper registration with the picket ends, there is providedin each mounting 99 a pinion IOI, which is journaled at each of its endswithin the mounting, and which extends across the rack 98 so that theteeth of the pinion are in cooperative engagement with the teeth of thelatter. The outer ends of the pinions are extended through the mountingsso as to afford purchase for a crank, wrench, or other adjusting tool.They may be suitably fiattened or squared in order to accommodateproperly the latter.

It will be seen that by loosening the bolts I00, the mountings are freeto move longitudinally of the rack, which motion may be efi'ected byturning the pinions IOI so as to slide the mount and associated devicesalong the rack to any desired position within the confines of thelatter. Thus, the selvagers may be adjusted to any mesh size.

In the instant case, the trimming, welding, and forminginstrumentalities have been simplified over those shown in my previousapplication in that the lightness of the wires composing the fabric tobe acted upon permits of a lighter construction, and necessitatessimpler mechanical movements being employed in carrying out theselvaging operation. In lieu of the cam shaft, whereby the selvagers ofmy copending application are actuated to perform their essentialfunctions, electro-magnets have here been provided in conjunction withsuitable timing means, whereby the selvagers are actuated atpredetermined intervals necessary for their successful operation.

The first unit in the selvager battery is the welder, which, similar tomy previously disclosed machine, consists of a pair of verticallyaligned electrodes I05 and I05a between which the outermost warp wire isadapted to pass. These electrodes are mounted for limited oscillationupon pivoted bearings I 06, Mid, respectively, formed in a standard I01,which is directly secured to the mounting 99.' The lower electrode iscaused to pivot about its axis I 09a so that its working end movesupwardly toward the upper electrode by means of a lever I08 that isfastened to the shaft I06a so as to impart movement thereto. SolenoidsI09 cause the lever I08, acting as their armature, to move downagainstthe tension of a spring IIO when the solenoids are energized, whichspring, when the solenoids are which is aflixed to the lower shaft I06a,which crank has a pin II3 within the limits of the yoke III. Thisarrangement is such that rotary motion of the shaft I06a causes thecrank H2 and its associated pin II3 to move through a circular path.This motion is imparted to the yoke III, which; in turn, is effective torevolve the shaft I06 in a direction opposite to that in which the shaftI06a is turned.

As will be seen in Figures 10 and 11, the turning of these shaftsisineffective to move the electrodes directly, but rather, theirmovement is accomplished by the shafts turning, respectively, lugs H4and la, which lugs are adapted to impart the requisite motion to theelectrodes through lugs II5II5a by means of compression springs II 6.These springs are adapted to transmit the desired motion in a yieldingmanner so that any irregularities or variations in thickness in thematerial falling between the electrodes may be compensated for withoutcausing injury to the parts. The springs II6, by maintaining a staticpressure, also aiford a quick compression movement on the welding pointswhen the wires to be welded become hot and plastic. This spring pressureon the welding points is maintained until the weld has been cooled so asto make a substantial bond.

In the interests of affording more positive movement, the solenoids I03are preferably of the double type, as is shown in Figure 10. Also,during the welding, when the electrodes are brought to bear upon theweft wires at their points of intersection with the outermost warpwires, there is a tendency for the hot wire to bend or wilt under itsown weight. This tendency is circumvented by guide members II 1 whichare mounted stationarily upon the standard I01 so as closely to confinethe picket ends from above and below. These guides I" have theadditional salutary effect of bringing the weft ends into approximatealignment in the plane of the fabric whereas they might otherwise have atendency to flare outwardly therefrom in directions both above and belowthe fabric, due to the interweaving of the outermost warp wiretherewith. It will be understood that the outermost warp wire, beingunder tension,

has a tendency to deflect the unsupported weft ends, rather than to beitself deflected by them. This brings into consideration the matter offeeding the outermost warp wires in a manner whereby they are not undulytensioned, and suitable means (not shown) are preferably provided forthis purpose.

Leaving now the initial welders wherein the fabric is bonded together bythe outermost warp wires being welded to each picket wire as it goes by,the fabric goes on to the trimming and initial forming tool, which isshown in the intermediate position of Figures and 11, and which is shownin varying degrees of enlargement and fragmentation in Figures 12, 13and 14. Upon the mounting 99 of this tool, there is provided a standardII8 adjacent the top of which is a pair of pivot bearings II9I20,respectively.

The top of the standard H8 is provided with an outwardly extendingportion I2I which overhangs the edge of the fabric being acted on. Astationary tool I2 is adiustably supported by the over-hanging portionI2I which. in the case of the trimmer, is sharpened at its lower edgefor cooperation with a movable sharpened tool, about to be described,for trimming the picket ends. The movable member comprises a rotatableelement I22, which is journaled in the bearing I20 of the standard H8.The sharpened tool I23 is rigidly aflixed to the rotatable element forcooperation with the downwardly depending stationary tool carried by theoverhanging part I2I of the standard. The movable tool I23 has motionimparted to it through the rotatable element I22 by means of arearwardly extending arm I24, which is provided with fixtures I25comprising the armatures of the pair of solenoids I26. When the latterare energized, the armature is pulled down by magnetic attraction, whichcauses the movable tool on the far side of the pivot I20 therefrom tomove upwardly so as to trim the wires falling between the lower tool I23and the upper tool I23a.

Mounted on the same standard and accommodated in the pivot bearing H3 isanother arm I21 (see Figures 11 and 13), which carries a movable toolI28 at one extremityand at the other is secured to the armature I25 ofthe solenoids Arranged for cooperation with the tool I28 is a stationarybacking-up tool I28 supported by the over-hanging portion I2I of thestandard H0. The pivot II9 of the movable element of this forming toolis sufficiently high relative to the plane of the fabric, and themovable tool I28 is so positioned with respect thereto, that, when theformer is rotated, the latter is caused to move not only upwardly intothe plane of the fabric but forwardly as well, incident to its arcuatetravel. The stationary cooperating tool I20 is, therefore, provided witha cut-away portion I30, which may best be seen in Figure 14, thatenables the movable tool I28 to engage picket wires, and push themupwardly and inwardly in the direction of the web of the fabric. Thus,as the solenoids I26 are recurrently energized, the trimmer is inducedto clip the ends of the picket wires so that they are all of uniformlength; while, simultaneously, the former is acting on adjacent picketwires that'have already been trimmed so as to dispose them in theposition illustrated in Figure 14. In this latter connection it shouldbe noticed that the bottom rear edge'of the stationary tool I23 isslightly relieved as at I3I so that, incident to each pickets being bentupwardly and inwardly, the second bend is imparted for reasons to becomeapparent hereinafter.

The final selvaging tool is that which appears at the left-hand end ofthe assemblies illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, and which is shownindividually in Figure 15. This comprises a standard I32 carried uponthe mounting 09, which standard, upon the fabric approach side thereof,is provided with two extensions I33 and I34 adapted to project inwardlybeyond the edges of the fabric above and below the latter, respectively.The upper extension I33 is provided at its inner end with a flangedroller I 35, which is adapted to overlie and closely cooperate witha-stationary guide I36 carried by the lower extension I34.

The clearance between the roller I35 and the stationary guide I36affords a passage for the preformed fabric edges, and, as the latterpass therethrough, the upwardly and inwardly extending extremities ofthe pickets are turned down sequentially by the roller into the positionillustrated in Figure 18. They immediately pass on to the final welderwhich is mounted on the same standard I32, and which comprises a lowerrelatively stationary, rotary, electrode I31, and a movable upperelectrode I38 of the pencil type, which is adapted for reciprocation inthe vertical, so as to contact each picket at the point where the latteroverlies the adjacent picket to which it becomes permanently weldedthereby.

It will be observed that the roller I35 and cooperating guide I36 arerelatively stationary, and the only element that is adapted to be movedin this particular assembly is the upper electrode I38. This motion iseffected by mounting the electrode on an arm I39 that is pivoted in thestandard I32 upon a bearing I40. The bearing I40 accommodates adownwardly depending arm l4l, which constitutes an armature for asolenoid I42. This arm, in turn, is rigidly secured to an upwardlyextending arm I43 that is arranged in alignment with the electrode armI39, which is independently and freely mounted on the pivot I40. Acompression spring I44 is interposed between adjacent surfaces of thearms I39 and I43. This provides a relief device similar to thatdiscussed in connection with the initial welders for positively, thoughyieldingly, transmitting the motion afforded by energizing the solenoidI42 to the electrode, thus to compensate for any variations in thicknessof the material passed therebetween, and to provide for furthercompression at the welding points when the wires to be welded become hotand plastic. The solenoid, upon being energized, draws its armature andconnected arm I4I towards it, which, in turn, rotates the upstanding.arm I43, as viewed in Figure 15, counter-clockwise, which tends tocompress the spring I44 50 as to urge the electrode arm I39 to movearound itspivot at I40; and this, in turn, brings the electrode I38 intoengagement with the material that is disposed against the relativelystationary, though rotatable, lower electrode I31. This operation weldsand completes the selvaging of the fabric, which then appears as isshown in the left-hand end of the view of Figure 18, and as shown tosize in Figure 19.

It will be understood that the solenoids for actuating the severalselvaging instrumentalities are energized simultaneously through anysuitable circuit maker-and-breaker, which may advantageously take theform of fiber cam discs acting on spring contacts. These same contactsmay be utilized in the distribution and timing of the welding current tothe several electrodes. In any event, a separate circuit interrupter isprovided in the welding circuit to open circuit after suflicient currenthas passed to eifect the welds so as to preclude burning the metal. Thisarrangement must be provided in addition to the local distributor andtimer contacts operated, as by the fiber cams mentioned above,coordinately with the operating cycle of the machine, because were themachine to be stopped at a point in its cycle when the fiber cams havethe welding circuit contacts in closed position, the wires being weldedwould be burned and destroyed before the welding current .could be shutoff. Hence, an auxiliary interrupter is employed that apportions justthe right amount of welding current and no more, after which it breaksthe welding circuit and precludes further welding, irrespective of theposition of the electrodes and local contacts. This arrangement has beenemployed by me on the machine of my copending application. The

interrupter may be any one of the many devices now available on thecommercial markets for performing similar functions, which because theyare Well known to the electrical art, has not been shown here.

As is described in my copending application hereinbefore identified, theselvaging units are mounted for collective movement in the direction ofthe fabrics travel during the interval in which they operate on thelatter. This is to permit the selvagers to pace the fabric while actingthereon so as to preclude stopping the fabric for this purpose, whichenables the delivery of the fabric to be continuous, uninterrupted andsmooth. The means provided here for the attainment of this end are thesame as shown and described in my copending application, but may beunderstood by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, hereof. As has alreadybeen described, the selvagers are mounted upon bases 91, which, in turn,are carried on a table 95. This table is disposed upon slide bearings 94at each side of the machine, upon which it is adapted to be reciprocatedthrough links and levers I93, a connecting rod or pitman I94, by anoscillating crank I95. The throw of. this crank, and its operatingperiod with respect to that of the machine, is just enough toreciprocate the table 95 and its associated selvagers an amount equal toone-half the distance between adjacent weft wires in the fabric. Whenmoving with the fabric the selvagers are operating, and when moving inthe return direction, the selvagers are inactive and free of the fabric.The throw of the crank I95 may be varied by moving the pitman bearingthereon relative to the axis of the power rockshaft I96 upon which thecrank is mounted. Thus, any size mesh may be accommodated.

Fabric winding There only remains for the fabric to be wound into abundle, which is accomplished by a mechanism similar in most respects tothat which I have already disclosed in my copending applicationhereinbefore referred to. It differs therefrom in the case of small meshfabrics such as are under contemplation herein in the substitution of arelatively smooth surface friction drum for the dentelated roll, whichwasprovided to' cog with the interstices of larger fabrics such as weredisclosed therein; and, also, in the addition of a simple, yeteffective, instrumentality for coiling the fabric under uniform tensionirrespective of the diameter of the bundle at any given time, thuscompensating for the ever-varying factor of the diameter of the bundle.

The bundling machine is shown at the left-' hand end of the view ofFigure 1 and in Figures 16 and 17. It consists of a stationary housingI50 in which are journaled drums I5I and I52, and a bundling pole I53.

The fabric F is delivered from the machine from the lowermost of thefabric rolls I beneath the operator's platform 0 (see Figure 1) to thedrum I5I beneath which it passes the lays around it for more than in areverse bendto the drum I52. It passes beneath and around this latter inanother reverse bend and is attached to the underside of the bundle poleI53 about which it is wrapped. As will be seen in Figures 1 and 16 thedrums I5I and I52 are positively driven by sprockets I54 and I55,respectively, at both ends of each roll which cooperate with chains I55that are driven from opposite sides of the machine proper by beingassociated with driven sprockets I51 and I60, respectively; this lattersprocket appearing infFlgure 1.

The bundling pole is driven, through a pulley I59 affixed to its shaft,and a belt I60, by a pulley I6I that is secured to the. shaft of theroll II,

which is powered by the sprockets and chains It will be appreciated thatat the commencement of the winding operation, the fabric is attached tothe bundling pole, which, at'su'ch time, represents a coiling core ofminimum diameter, and of minimum circumferential extent.. Thispresupposes that the drive for the bundle pole must be of sufficientspeed to wind the fabric tightly about the bundling pole at the outset,notwithstanding the fact that, asfthe bundle grows, the circumferentialextent of the winding core increases, and more fabric at the same hum-'ber of revolutions per minute of the bundling pole is taken up. Inasmuchas this operation commences with the size of the bundling pole and thespeed of revolution thereof presenting ideal conditions for the linealextent of fabric being delivered thereto, the changes incident to thegrowing of the bundle are such as to make these factors in excess ofwhat is needed, necessitating that they be compensated for.

This compensation is effected by allowing for a certain amount ofslippage to occur between the belt I60 and the pulleys I59 and I6I,which constitute the main source of power for the bundling pole.However, the larger the bundle becomes, the greater is the mechanicaladvan tage afforded the incoming fabric in resisting the rotation of thebundling pole, necessitating, in the interests of winding a tightbundle, that the drive to the bundling pole be made more forceful andmore positive as the winding proceeds. This means that the allowableslippage must be kept under strict control and the frictional resistancethereto progressively increased in order that the fabric may becontinuously wound without difficulty until a bundle of the proper sizehas been produced.

This problem has been solved by employing a belt tightener that iseffective in gradually tightening the belt I60 automatically,synchronously, and proportionately to the growth of the roll of fabricupon the bundling pole I53. One such arrangement is illustrated inFigure .17 in which it will be observed that, upon the drive side of thebundling pole, there is provided an upstanding member I63 from whichextends an arm I64, which, at one of its ends, is pivoted as at I65 tothe standard I63, and at the other of its ends is provided with suitabletension spring engaging means, such as a hook I66.

To the stationary housing of the bundling mechanism, at a point beneathone section of the belt I60, is pivoted an arm I61, to the outer end ofwhich is secured an idle belt tensioning pulley I66. The raising andlowering of the arm tightens and loosens the belt I60.

Suitably pivoted to the standard I63, as upon a bearing I69, is a leverI10, which extends down and across the bundling pole adjacent one of itslever as it is raised and ends. mechanismis a lever- I10a'whichcorresponds to the lever I10, last described. Upon the outer end of eachof the levers I10 and-I101: is a shaft bearing I1I in which isjournaleda roller shalt 112 by which an idle roller-I13 is supported between thelevers so as to over-lie and bear upon the bundling pole I53, or anyfabric that may be rolled thereon.

As will be best seen in Figure 17, a cam I 14 is associated with the1ever 'I1 0 in such a manner as to have no movement-relativethereto. butso as to .be rotated about the pivotal axis of the bundling pole.

The cam I14 is so arranged with respect to the pivoted arm I64 that anymovement, which it is made to perform bythe lever I10; is immediatelytransmitted thereto, for which purpose a cam follower roller I15 isprovided ,on'the arm I64 intermediate its ends.

A compression spring I16 is tensioned between the outer end I66 of thearm I64 and the outer end of the belt tightener arm' I61 adjacent thepulley thereof.

A glance at Figure 17 willbe suflicient to indicate the manner in whichthis device functions. When the winding operation. is initiated, theroller I13 permits the levers I10I10a to assume their lowest position,at which point the associated cam I14 permits the pivoted arm. I64 toassume its lowest position. As-the bundle of fabric grows, the roll I13is lifted a corresponding amount, which, in turn, raises the leversI10--I10a so that the cam causes the pivoted arm I64 to move upwardly.Such movement increases the tension of the spring I16 which, in turn,urges the pulley I68 upward with greater force. This is responsible forincreasing the tension on the belt I60 in a progressive manner I so thatthe frictional drive of the belt I60 about the pulleys I59 and I6Ibecomes more and more positive. Finally,-when the roll is at its maximumdiameter, the roller I13, and associated levers, will have caused thecam I14 to turn so that the high point in itsperiphery will haveapproached or attained a point beneath the arm I64 which will, in turn,have caused the belt-tightener pulley I66, through the spring I16, toexert its maximum force upon the belt I60 in tensioning the same.

It should be noted that the contour of the cam I14 is such as to amplifythe movements of the several levers in a way that the tension underwhich the compression spring I16 is at any time working is approximatelydirectly proportional to the thickness of the bundle (i. e., from thesurface of the bundling pole to the surface of the bundle of fabric inthe direction of a radius of the latter) at any iven time.

The fabric Attention is now called to Figures 14, 18, and

. 19, in which the fabric appears undergoing comtool face I3 I.

Upon the'oppositesideyof the bundling lowered relative to the

